Automatic place-keeper for stenographers and type-writers



(No Model.)

W. E. WILLIAMS. AUTOMATIC PLACE KEEPER FOR STENOGRAPHERS AND TYPE WRITERS.

gatented May '12,, 1896.

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ANDREW B GRAMAMJHOTOUIHO wAsmNGTlnLDCv iVVITNEEEE- ?%WZM %Wm@ NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIE EASON VILLIAMS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC PLACE-KEEPER FOR STENOGRAPHERS AND TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,013, dated May 12, 1896.

Application filed February 21, 1896. Serial No. 680,153. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, XVILLIE EASON \VIL- LIAMS, of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Place-Keepers for Stenographers and Typeriters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device adapted for application to a stenographers note-book or to sheets of paper containing matter to be copied by a type-writer in which a marking plate or bar is automatically lowered on the page of copy, the speed of movement of the said marking plate or bar being susceptible of variation, so that the writer may gage the speed to suit the number of lines of copy written per minute, as will hereinafter fully appear.

In the further description of the said invention which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus applied to a stenographers note-book. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged details of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the base of the apparatus, consisting of a bar adapted to rest on a table.

B B are hollow cylinders screwed or otherwise fastened into bosses at on the base-bar A. lVith this construction the base A serves to close the lower ends of the cylinders B.

C C are pistons adapted to slide within the cylinders B. These pistons are preferably formed of tubes provided at the lower ends with cup-leathers I), (see Fig. 2,) which is a section of the upper end of a cylinder and the lower end of a piston. To admit of the cupleathers I) being securely fastened to the piston-tubes G, the ends of the tubes are provided with grooves c, as shown in that figure, and the cup-leathers are stretched over the corrugated portion of the tubes and wrapped with fine wire or thread, (not shown,) as will be readily understood.

The upper ends of the piston-tubes C are bent and connected to an air-tight box D in any suitable manner. In the drawings the said tubes are shown as inserted in bosses (Z, forming parts of the said box.

The box D has a removable front face E,

which is adapted as a dial upon which indicating-numbers are displayed, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The rear wall F of the box D has a boss f,

which extends inward, having therein a small tapering escape-hole g.

G is a needle-valve on a threaded stem G, which passes through the dial-plate, which is also threaded and fitted with a packing-box 72. The needle-valve rests in the tapering hole g in the boss f. By means of this nee die-valve the escape-hole g may beclosed or gradually opened, for a purpose hereinafter described. At the outer end of the needlevalve stem Gis a knob H, whereby the valve may be turned, and between the knob and the dial-plate E and fastened to the stem of the needle-valve is an indicating-pointer I of such length as to reach nearly to the numerals on the dial. hen the pointer is opposite the zero point, the tapering escape-hole g is entirely closed and the degree of opening is indicated by the position of the pointer on the dial-plate, as will be hereinafter described.

At the lower side of the box D is a short nipple J, the end of which is covered with a cap K, having a central hole oi, and over this hole is placed a ball-valve j.

It will be understood that if the pistons are elevated to their full extent in the cylinders the cylinders and piston-tubes, together with the connecting-box filled with some fluid, such as water or air, and the needle-valve entirely closed, the said piston-tubes and the box will remain in their elevated position for an indefinite period of time; but if the needle-valve is opened the contained fluid will escape through the hole g and the box and piston-tubes fall, the rapidity of fall being governed by the position of the needle-valve in the tapering escape-hole g.

The upper ends of the cylinders B are connected by a rod M, which serves to keep them in alinement and also to support a note-book. The note-book, which is shown in position, is denoted by N, and it will be seen that it is opened and hung over the said rod.

The apparatus is designed to stand in an inclined position, and to effect this the rod M is provided with a leg 0, the end of which rests on the table. The leg is hinged to the rod M, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the angle of inclination of the apparatus may be changed at pleasure.

P is a marking plate or bar, preferably of glass, which is hung by chains 70 from the piston-tubes G. This marking-plate rests on the page of the note-book upon which the notes are written, and the length of the chains is such that the lower edge of the marking-plate will be above the first line of the notes when the piston-tn bes are in their highest position.

To prepare the apparatus for use, it is only necessary to lift the piston -tubes to their highest position. In this movement air enters through the hole t past the ball-valve j and fills the cylinders, piston-tubes, and the connecting box. Upon the release of the tubes they fall slightly, owing to the compressibility of the contained air; but this slight fall will be provided for in the lift. The apparatus is now in a condition for use. The note-book is then placed over the rod M, with the marking-plate over the first line of the notes. The knob is now turned so as to open the needle-valve and the hand or pointer placed at such numeral which by experience is found to represent the proper speed of downward motion of the marking-plate or such speed as will keep the said markingplate about the same distance above the line of notes from which the type-written copy is inders, means to admit air to the said cylinders and an escape-valve variable in position, to govern the escape of the air, a suspended place-marking plate having a movement in common with the said pistons, and a holder for copy, substantially as specified.

2. In an automatic place-keeper, for typewriters, a pair of air'sustained pistons carrying a marking-plate, combined with a valve for allowing the gradual escape of the sustaining-air and the fall or downward movement of the said marking plate, substantially as specified.

WILLIE EASON WILLIAMS.

\Vitnesses:

\Vn. T. HOWARD, DANL. Fisnnn. 

